Electric connection



Sept 27, 1938- w. J. CLEMENTS 2,131,165

ELECTRIC CONNECTION Filed NOV. lO, 1937 Patented ,Sept 27, 1938' UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC CONNECTION William J.

Clements, Chicago, Ill., signor to Clements Manufacturing Company,Chicago My invention relates' to an improvement in` electric connectionmeans. One purpose is the provision of a connection for use withhousings, partitions or the like whereby a connectl ing closure plate ormember can be partially released from the housing or partition withwhich it is associated so that a conductive connection associated withthe releasable plate or member can be worked upon exteriorly, as wherelo itis necessary to splice leads.

One application of my invention is to a connection plate foremploymentwith motor housings such as are employed for vacuum cleaners and thelike. It will be understood, however, that ll it may be applied to anysituation where a housing or a partition normally bars ready access ofthe operator to interior conductive connections of the type which haveto be spliced.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of thespecification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is an exterior view of a motor housing with the connectionplate released; Figure 2 is a partial similar view of a variant form ofmy device;

Figure 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section on line l-l of Figure 3;

30 Figure 5 is a view on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, illustrating theparts in the position which they take when the connection plate is inthe closed position; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a further 35 variation.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specificationand drawing.

Referring to the drawing, I generally indicates a housing or partitionmember which may en- 40 close a motor diagrammatically indicated atI 2.9, l indicate leads extending from the motor. The housing I is aperturedas at and 6 is a closure plate which may be secured in position inrelation to the aperture as by thumb screws 45 1. 9 or any othersuitable securing means. 9 is a conductor extending from any suitablepower source, for example a commercial source of electric power. Itincludes two wires or conductors Il, II which may be spliced to theleads I, 4 as 50 at I2, I9.

It will be observed that the length oi' the leads l, l is such that whenthe plate 9 is released from the housing I, as by removal of the thumbscrews 1, 9, the leads then are able to extend exteriorly of the housingI and outwardly through the aperture 5 in such fashion that the operatorhas easy access to the splices I2, I3 so that they can readily beinitially made or can be changed when necessary, as where a new wire orconductor 9, I9, II has to be applied. In the form shown in Figures 1and 5, the plate 9 is shown as having an outward extension or angle I4apertured as at I5 which receives the rubber gromet I6 through which thecable 9 passes. Il is any suitable clamp for holding the cable to theinner face of the plate l. It may be controlled for example by the screwI9.

In the form of Figures 1 and '4, the cable 9 is entirely exterior to thehousing and does not penetrate the aperture 5 at all. In the form ofFigures 2, 3, 4 and 6, however, I illustrate the cable 9 as passingthrough an aperture 20 in the housing at a point removed from theaperture 5, this aperture being also provided if desired with a rubbergromet 2 I. The cable is preferably not tightly gripped by the gromet 2lso that when the plate 9 is released from the housing I and is drawninto the position in which it is shown for example in Figure 2, thecable 9 extends a sufflcient distance to permit the plate to be removedvsufliciently outwardly to render work; on the splices I2 and I9 easy.If for any reason the cable 9 is fixed in relation to the gromet 2i orthe housing I, then preferably I employ a sufflcient length of the cable9 within the housing so that the plate l may be withdrawn a convenientdistance when released.

As shown in Figure 6 I may also employ a yielding collapsible member 30,for example a wire spring, interposed between the outer face of thehousing I and the cable 9. This may serve as means for preventingbreakage of the cable 9, although in the structure herein shown breakageis exceedingly unlikely.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and illustrated apractical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made inthe size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing fromthe spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawingto be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic, ratherthan as limiting me to my precise showing.

It will be further realized that whereas I have indicated my device inconnection with a closed housing it may be employed with partitions orenclosures of a multiplicity of sizes and shapes.

I claim:

1. ,In combination, a motor housing for vacuum cleaners and the like. amotor in said housing,

eaicl housing opertine in its well, o closure for Selci aperture, ineenslor removably securing; seid closure in relation to eeiol cia-encore, oplurelity of leeds extending from sold motoie tcwercl eeicl aperture,seid leeolc loelng of clima cient length to extend outwerrlly tlilouglisolai aperture e substantiel distance, e corri for colti motor housing,adapted to extend to only .niitelole source of commercial electricpower, calci corel including e plurelity oiG conductors, mesme lor re=moveloly securing the conductors of the corel to the leads of the motor,end e. reedilifl removolole connection between seid closure emi saiclcorol and leeds, adopted to secure seid corel and leeds to the innerfece of seid closure, said connection and the connections loetween theconductors of the cords and the motor leads being substantially exteriorto said housing when the closure is removed from the housing, and beinethereby poel tioned lor re ecce-oe liy tlie operator.

2. In cornbinetion, o motor lioiielne lor wecnnm cleaners one, tlielilre, el motor in colli lioiieinc.,

encino@ miel noticing lim/lng on aperture in its well, e closure ioreelcl eeertine, ineens for removably teeming; Solal cloein'e in relationto seid epertur@ e pliirellty oit leeols extending from seiol motortenerci geld aperture, seid leeds being oi culcient length. to extendoutwardly throlnell aperture e, substantiel distance, e cord for seidmotor housing, edeioteol to extend to any eiiitelole source oicommercial electric power, seid corri including e plurality ofconductors, ineens, iler removebly occuring the conductors oi the corelto time leeds of the motor, enel e reecliiy removable connection betweenseid closure sind calci cool enel leeds, adapted to secure seici cordemi leoclc to the inner fece of seid closure, seiol connection enel theconnections between the conductors of tlie corrie ond the motor leedsbeing ciilootontlolly exterior to eeicl housing when the cloture loremoved from tlre housing, and beine' tliereloy nooitioneil :lor iieoolyeccess ley the criernl otor.

llW mill J. Climmlille.

